Indiana's agriculture department is looking to build a network of university and commercial researchers for what's being called an Agriculture Innovation Corridor.

Gov. Mike Pence included the initiative in his State of the State speech, and Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann said she has started talking with leaders from Purdue University and elsewhere about its prospects.

Officials say the concept aims to build on the agriculture-related research being done at Purdue, along with existing companies such as Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences and Eli Lilly and Co.'s Elanco Animal Health.

Ellspermann says the state hopes to boost the agriculture research initiatives over the next couple years while continuing its traditional promotion of crop and livestock farming.